Alzheimer's Disease: Home Safety Information (cont.)
Outside Approaches to the House
- Keep steps sturdy and textured to prevent falls in wet or icy weather.
- Mark the edges of steps with bright or reflective tape.
- Consider a ramp with handrails into the home rather than steps.
- Eliminate uneven surfaces or walkways, hoses, or other objects that may
cause a person to trip.
- Restrict access to a swimming pool by fencing it off with a locked gate,
covering it, and keeping it closely supervised when in use.
- In the patio area, remove the fuel source and fire starters from any
grills when not in use, and supervise use when the person with Alzheimer's
disease is
present.
- Place a small bench or table by the entry door to hold parcels while
unlocking the door.
- Make sure outside lighting is adequate. Light sensors that turn on
lights automatically as you approach the house are available and may be
useful. They also may be used in other parts of the home.
- Prune bushes and foliage well away from walkways and doorways.
- Consider a NO SOLICITING sign for the front gate or door.
Entryway
- Remove scatter rugs and throw rugs.
- Use textured strips or nonskid wax on hardwood floors to prevent
slipping.
Kitchen
- Install childproof door latches on storage cabinets and drawers
designated for breakable or dangerous items. Lock away all household
cleaning products, matches, knives, scissors, blades, small appliances, and
anything valuable.
- If prescription or nonprescription drugs are kept in the kitchen, store
them in a locked cabinet.
- Remove scatter rugs and foam pads from the floor.
- Remove knobs from the stove, or install an automatic shut-off switch.
- Do not use or store flammable liquids in the kitchen. Lock them in the
garage or in an outside storage unit.
- Keep a night-light in the kitchen.
- Remove or secure the family "junk drawer." A person with
Alzheimer's disease may eat
small items such as matches, hardware, erasers, plastics, etc.
- Remove artificial fruits and vegetables or food-shaped kitchen magnets,
which might appear to be edible.
- Insert a drain trap in the kitchen sink to catch anything that may
otherwise become lost or clog the plumbing.
- Consider dismantling the garbage disposal. People with Alzheimer's
disease may place
objects or their own hands in the disposal.
Bedroom
- Anticipate the reasons a person with Alzheimer's disease might get out of bed, such as
hunger, thirst, going to the bathroom, restlessness, and pain, and try to
meet these needs by offering food and fluids, and scheduling ample
toileting.
- Use a night-light.
- Use an intercom device (often used for infants) to alert you to any
noises indicating falls or a need for help. This also is an effective device
for bathrooms.
- Remove scatter rugs.
- Remove portable space heaters. If you use portable fans, be sure that
objects cannot be placed in the blades.
- Be cautious when using electric mattress pads, electric blankets,
electric sheets, and heating pads, all of which can cause burns. Keep
controls out of reach.
- When the person with Alzheimer's disease is at risk of falling out of bed, place mats
next to the bed, as long as this does not create a greater risk of accident.
- Use transfer or mobility aids.
- If you are considering using a hospital-type bed with rails and/or
wheels, understand that many people can sleep safely without bed rails, and
reassess the need for using bed rails on a regular basis:
- Use beds that can be raised and lowered close to the floor to
accommodate both the person with Alzheimer's disease and your needs.
- Keep the bed in the lowest position with wheels locked.
- Use a proper size mattress or mattress with raised foam edges to
prevent the person from being trapped between the mattress and rail.
- Reduce the gaps between the mattress and side rails.
- Monitor the person with Alzheimer's disease frequently.
Bathroom
- Do not leave a severely impaired person with Alzheimer's disease alone in the bathroom.
- Remove the lock from the bathroom door to prevent the person with
Alzheimer's disease
from getting locked inside.
- Place nonskid adhesive strips, decals, or mats in the tub and shower. If
the bathroom is uncarpeted, consider placing these strips next to the tub,
toilet, and sink.
- Use washable wall-to-wall bathroom carpeting to prevent slipping on wet
tile floors.
- Use an extended toilet seat with handrails, or install grab bars beside
the toilet.
- Install grab bars in the tub/shower. A grab bar in contrasting color to
the wall is easier to see.
- Use a foam rubber faucet cover (often used for small children) in the
tub to prevent serious injury should the person with Alzheimer's disease fall.
- Use plastic shower stools and a hand-held showerhead to make bathing
easier.
- In the shower, tub, and sink, use a single faucet that mixes hot and
cold water to avoid burns.
- Adjust the water heater to 120 degrees to avoid scalding tap water.
- Insert drain traps in sinks to catch small items that may be lost or
flushed down the drain.
- Store medications (prescription and nonprescription) in a locked
cabinet. Check medication dates and throw away outdated medications.
- Remove cleaning products from under the sink, or lock them away.
- Use a night-light.
- Remove small electrical appliances from the bathroom. Cover electrical
outlets. If men use electric razors, have them use a mirror outside the
bathroom to avoid water contact.
Living Room
- Clear all walk areas of electrical cords.
- Remove scatter rugs or throw rugs. Repair or replace torn carpet.
- Place decals at eye level on sliding glass doors, picture windows, or
furniture with large glass panels to identify the glass pane.
- Do not leave the person with Alzheimer's disease alone with an open fire in the
fireplace. Consider alternative heating sources. Remove matches and
cigarette lighters.
- Keep the controls for cable or satellite TV, VCR, and stereo system out
of sight.
Laundry Room
- Keep the door to the laundry room locked if possible.
- Lock all laundry products in a cabinet.
- Remove large knobs from the washer and dryer if the person with
Alzheimer's disease
tampers with machinery.
- Close and latch the doors and lids to the washer and dryer to prevent
objects from being placed in the machines.
Garage/Shed/Basement
- Lock access to all garages, sheds, and basements if possible.
- Inside a garage or shed, keep all potentially dangerous items, such as
tools, tackle, machines, and sporting equipment either locked away in
cabinets or in appropriate boxes/cases.
- Secure and lock all motor vehicles and keep them out of sight if
possible. Consider covering those vehicles, including bikes, which are not
frequently used. This may reduce an Alzheimer's disease person's thoughts of leaving.
- Keep all toxic materials, such as paint, fertilizers, gasoline, or
cleaning supplies out of view. Put them either in a high, dry place, or lock
them in a cabinet.
- If a person with Alzheimer's disease is permitted in a garage, shed, or basement,
preferably with supervision, make sure the area is well lit and that stairs
have a handrail and are safe to walk up and down. Keep walkways clear of
debris and clutter, and place overhanging items out of reach.
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